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Background: Zinc deficiency has been identified as a contributing factor to poor appetite, impaired immune function, and various gastrointestinal disturbances in young children. Objective: To assess the effect of zinc supplementation on vomiting status in anorexic children. Methods: A randomized, controlled, single-blinded clinical trial. Fifty vomiting anorexic children (3–36 months old) without infection and gastro-intestinal outlet obstructions were selected on admission to the nutrition recovery center: 25 (supplemented, S g...roup) received 10mg/child daily of elemental zinc supplementation as gluconate with iron and vitamins of supplemental dosage, and 25 (non-supplemented, NS group) received a similar one but without zinc for 90 days. All children were also observed during a 90-day post-supplementation period, one child of the S group and four children of the NS group dropped out. On days 7, 10, and 15 the vomiting status was assessed. On days 0 and 30, the levels of energy intake and weight gain were measured. On days 0 and 90, serum zinc levels were also measured. Results: On days 7, 10, and 15, the healed proportions of the vomiting children were significantly higher (83.3% vs. 0.0%; 87.5% vs. 4.8% and 95.5% vs. 19%) in the S group than that in the NS group (p < 0.001 for each). On day 30, the levels of energy intake (108 ± 20 vs. 82 ± 16 Kcal/kg/day) and weight gain (414 120 vs. 248 ± 102 g/child/mo) were significantly higher in the S group than in the NS group (p < 0.001 for each). Serum zinc levels (µg/dl) were significantly higher (76.8 ± 8.4 vs. 71.2 ± 6.3, p < 0.05) in the S group than in the NS group on day 90. Conclusion: This study supports the role of zinc in protracted vomiting not due to gastro-intestinal outlet obstructions in anorexic children, while pointing out the need for large studies.
